Saturday night’s match in Dallas is the last of a hellish six-game stretch to start the season — one they’ll emerge from mostly unscathed.

Road wins in Seattle and Columbus have the Reds (3-2-0) poised to enter their bye week with at least a .500 record regardless of what happens against the best team in the Western Conference.

“These first six games were key to us to where we wanted to be. Then the next five — four at home and one away,” TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen said. “It’s pretty obvious those four home games are going to be big, big games for us. After that, a lot of the guys will be more accustomed, then once everyone come back form the World Cup, I’d like to think we’ll be in a nice position to make a good push.”

Six weeks in, the Reds are in a better position than most thought they’d be.